Everyone better off with Taylor trade

Hopefully, it ends today, for all concerned, this increasingly ugly faceoff between Bill Parcells and Jason Taylor. One plots a good beginning, the other a happy ending. One is from Mars, the other from Hollywood.

When Taylor two-stepped by Dolphins headquarters this month, he was welcomed with hugs by his temporary teammates and ice by Parcells, according to sources in the building.

Tony Sparano, the new coach, did approach Taylor. But no hug was coming. Sparano said that while Taylor was dancing with his stars in Hollywood, the Dolphins players were sweating through offseason workouts.

You can understand Sparano. He inherited a 1-15 team. These are his first workouts as a rookie coach. It doesn't matter if it's April. This is where he sets the template of his culture. And the star player - really, the only player left on the marquee - is out fox trotting?

That's part of why this Parcells-Taylor divorce needs to happen today before it erupts into full-scale ugliness. The other part is Taylor's side. You can understand his mind-set, too. He has supplied 11 proud years to a Dolphins era that has oscillated between mediocrity and smelly.

No recent Dolphin has played harder or better or handled himself in the community more admirably. One bad season, he's NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The next awful one, he's the NFL Man of the Year.

So, from Taylor's perspective, why shouldn't he use a lifetime achievement pass and accept a Hollywood spotlight? Does anyone watching the last decade think he won't play hard come September?

Of course, last training camp, Taylor didn't report in full shape, as even he admitted. He was a non-factor at the season's start, which set the tone for the stink to come. Points to Parcells.

But how can Taylor be saddled with another rebuilding project as he inches toward retirement? Points to Taylor.

And round and round it goes. Bottom-line: Parcells has to trade Taylor out of town. Today. You can debate almost everything else this draft.

You can make a case the Dolphins need any position but running back or offensive tackle. A quarterback? A cornerback? A tight end in an offense that uses the tight end? Why not?

The pressing spots are linebacker, wide receiver and guard, though. They need starters at each just to field a team. At guard, there are candidates on the remaining roster or the remainders pile. Drew Mormino is around from last draft. L.J. Shelton, who has played guard, hasn't signed anywhere as a free-agent tackle.

You would hope a guard could be found in this heap considering the hefty investments across the line - two No. 1 picks, a second-round pick and the richest free-agent signing this winter.

Plus, there are only three starting linebackers in what hopes to be a four-linebacker defense. And the only starting-caliber receivers are free agent Ernest Wilford and Ted Ginn Jr. Maybe Greg Camarillo, too, considering he has as many touchdown catches as Ginn.

Taylor should fit into the Parcells' plans today. Parcells said weeks ago that Taylor wouldn't be traded, but he was only too-loudly playing a card he felt necessary. Even as he was saying this, one team was feeling the Dolphins out with a trade offer, a source said.

They weren't rebuffed a bit. They didn't get a positive answer. But the Dolphins listened, which is always the first step in these matters.

So Taylor wants to go, Parcells wants him to go and the only question is where he goes. And for what. Does he merit, approaching 34, a low first-round or high second-round pick? To slide the Dolphins' second-round pick high into the first round?

The treasure chest Minnesota gave for Kansas City's Jared Allen - a first-round pick, two third-round picks and $31 million guaranteed - shows the premium put on premium pass rushers. It also got the most age-desirous one off the market, clearing the way for teams to call about Taylor.

The Dolphins keeping Taylor today serves no one well. Not Parcells, who will have forgone a chance to get younger. Not Sparano, who will have to deal with a disgruntled Taylor as he feels his way as a first-year coach.

Certainly not Taylor.

Not you or me, either. Do you want to watch what will come next? Do I want to write of the back-biting or lip-biting that would come? OK, maybe on a slow sports day. But the alternative is smarter.

Parcells wants to start his program the right way. Taylor wants to end his career the right way. Common sense says they can't breathe the same locker-room air for long. Hopefully, they won't after today.

Dave Hyde can be reached at dhyde@sun-sentinel.com

INFORMATIONAL BOX:

Dolphins Top 5 Postions of need

1. Offensive line: The Dolphins must find a starting tackle and guard in this draft.